Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
Author's Notes: Wow! Look at all the reviews! I got so many, you all rock! –hands out brownies to all reviewers- Home made!
fox eye: I'm glad you liked the angst. You know, one of these days, I probably will end up writing a one shot about Marco and a vampire. You bet me Slade is the bad guy? Oh, I'm so down for that! Except, I don't have ten dollars. And I should be prepared, just in case it is Slade. If I had even that much money, do you think I would be sitting around all summer writing fan fiction? Heh...
Bridget N: Here it is, the next chappy! So you think Spinner drunk it? Ah...we may never know...
Mein Dame: Lol. Yes, Spin is madly in love with Marco! Well Spinner doesn't beat him up in this chapter, but, well, you'll just have to read! You won't have to wait too much longer for me to start delving deeper into the wonderful world of Marco/Spin. Just a few more chapters. I hope you get inspiration for your story!
just-nikki: One time, we had this cheerleading thing –yeah, I'm a cheerleader, leave me alone!- where we looked after these little kids. Me and my friend came, and that was about it. I feel your pain! Borbid eh? Cool! I like that word. –happily munches on cookie- Yum! I have uses for cookies, and I'm sure I can find something for your sister to do. I've been needing a good slave.
almost-never: Not only am I evil, but I'm the source of all evil! Oh no wait, that's Cole...I get confused. Slade is fun to play with, so that's why he's still in this story! Ah, the other slashiness fic. I am so going to write that, because the perverted things I could do are just endless! It'll be a Spinner/Marco, since Craig really does belong with Ash. Lol, I'm so going to write a Toby/Marco fic now! –giggles- Oh, and you can quote the cure anytime your black little heart desires. They rule!
Isdule07: Lol, no sadly, Spin did not lick Marco's ear...yet! I'm glad you liked it anyway! High and horny eh? I'll make sure to deliver the message! I would have Marco do it, but every time I send Marco to tell Spinner something, he doesn't come back for hours...
Your-sins-into-me: AFI rules as well! All right, well, I guess I can spoil a bit for you and say yes to both of your questions. Hope you enjoy this and thanks for the review!
Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Duckies: Must comment on your name, it's so wonderful! Hilariously perverted? Cool! People usually find my crap...well...crappy. Heh. Glad you're enjoying it!
KinseySix: Yeah, that one was a bit short, but this chapter is over 7,000 words, so it's sure to make up for it! Oh yeah, we could make a t-shirt that says 'Slash rocks my socks' on the front, and paste pictures of Spinner and Marco's heads on the back and draw a little heart around them. –giggles- No! Not Liberty! God, you must really like this story if you're willing to do that! You'll update Pretty Girl! The best slash story in the entire world! Yay! Oh and cookies...mmm...
anjel919: You think I'm funny? –gasps- People tell me I'm funny, sometimes, but usually their laughing at me, not with me. So sad...
Enigmus: Lol, your review was simple and to the point! So here you are, more!
Cyanide Anytime: Ah yes, brownies for all! –gives reviewers more- And yep, now I officially love you. –giggles again- You giggle a lot at 1 AM. Anyone else noticed that? I am going to go read your original fiction, since it sounds really cool! Thank you for permission to reference the poem though, it makes me feel all...warm and cuddly inside. Or maybe that was the taco...-shrugs-
Here we are, the next chapter!
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Chapter Eight: Eye of the Beholder
Saturday and Sunday were two of the worst days of my life. Every single minute; every single second took hours to pass. What if the spell didn't work? What if they all remembered? What if they put two and two together and realized it was all my fault? What if they hated me?
I was so worried that I could barely sleep. I couldn't even pay attention during lessons with Mozzy. And -not that I need to point out the obvious or anything- if you don't pay attention when you're working on a fire element, well...things tend to get set on fire.
That's why I'm down here in the living room. I accidentally set my bed on fire. My ma and papa completely freaked -all because of one eency fire- being and told me I was grounded from being alone in my room. I've had to sleep on our couch for the past few days, and just let me say, laying on this thing isn't all that good for the back. I think I dislocated something just laying on this thing.
So anyway, imagine my surprise –and great relief- when I walked into homeroom on Monday morning, and found out that all was right with the world. Well, as right as the world can be.
Craig and Jimmy were sitting at their desks, listening intently as Spinner explained his theory about how Mrs. Kwan is really an evil alien sent here to Earth to begin colonizing slaves for the rest of the aliens.
Yeah...uh Spin's an idiot. And kind of paranoid.
Paige, Ashley and Hazel were sitting at their desks, each glancing back at the boys –well, Paige kept looking over at Ellie, who was too busy trying not to stare at Paige to notice she was being looked at- while talking about the dance.
I saw Dylan later that day, too. He was hanging out by his locker, talking to some of his hockey friends. He saw me, and gave me a little smile and a wave. So I think it's pretty safe to say that he didn't remember, either.
I was so ecstatic. I was a tad bit angry though; only because I had spent all weekend nearly driving myself insane –an burning up my bedroom- when everything was going to be just fine. That's the only reason I'm was upset, though. I mean it's not as if I have anything else to be upset about. No. Not anything like the fact that Spinner and I had kissed and he didn't even remember it. I wasn't lying around, obsessing about the tingle that went down my spine, or the way my stomach was twisting in so many ways it almost made me dizzy, or how, when he kissed me, I felt more alive then I had in a long time, but felt like I was dying too.
Nope. Not obsessing one bit.
So right now I'm lying on the torture instrument otherwise known as the couch, obsessing over the kiss –do not judge me- while still trying to memorize some spells.
"Rode ts-tshia," I mumble, yawning slightly. I raise my hand, lightly rubbing my eyes in a move to keep my eyes open. "Gotta stay awake."
I look up at the clock that is hanging above the TV. 2:34. No wonder I'm so tired. I know I should probably get some sleep –tomorrow is a school day, after all- but I skipped too much this weekend. I have to keep up in my witchly studies after all. I can't very well fight him without knowing how to control my powers and spells.
I haven't had any visits from him lately, thank God. Mozzy and I have been scrying for him though. Scrying is pretty simple, actually. All I have to do is focus my mind on something, and a picture of where ever it is will somehow form in my mind. Since I don't really know much about him –other than the fact that he's a witch, enjoys cutting me up with daggers, and is most likely evil- or what he looks like, I can't search for him exactly. Mozzy has been teaching me to feel and read auras, so I've been concentrating on dark mystical energies. The thing is, nothing comes when I do. Well, once I did get this lock on someone, but it turned out to be the Chief of Police. Oh...that was awkward.
Mozzy and I went to see Rajko, and even he couldn't find him. It's not like there are many witches here in Degrassi, so finding him was supposed to be pretty easy. Rajko said that it's possible he has some type of shielding spell around like him, like the one I have around my mind that prevents him from entering my mind, except this one hides his aura. Either that, or I'm doing it wrong, or he's not even in Degrassi. There were other suggestions from Rajko, but Mozzy threw most of them out.
I flip the book over and lay it on one of the couch arms, turning over on my stomach to try and get more comfortable. Absently, I begin swinging my legs back and forth as I look over the words on the pages.
"Rode tshia bore le ka...kanensa," I say, scrunching my face slightly. Some of these words are hard to pronounce. But if you don't say them just right, then all hell breaks loose. "Rode tshia bora le kanensa tai te na le yakensa." (1)
I smile, mentally giving myself a pat on the back for getting the first line of this invisibility spell. Man, next time, I'm definitely getting a spell book in English instead of Romany. I raise my arm above my head, stretching my leg at the same time, hoping to pop my back. I seriously think sleeping on this couch, and that love seat thing in the corner, has done something to me. I need a chiropractor. Next time we have to go down to Rajko's shop, I'm getting a massage.
The side of the couch dips down slightly. I try to lift my head to see what it is, but my neck pops, a small pain shooting through my neck which causes me to lay my head back down. Soon there are soft, warm hands sliding gently over my bare shoulder blades. Knew I should have worn a shirt to bed tonight.
No...not now. Not now. Haven't I been abused enough for one week without him? I look over the arm of the couch, seeing Mozzy lying asleep in the basket/kitty bed, nuzzling into the pink blanky I wrapped around her. Great, while my hell cat is sleeping, I'm getting molested by freak dream guy. Where is the justice in that?
I immediately begin struggling. One of my arms lash out to try and hit him, but I only end up knocking my spell book onto the ground. I try to flip over on my back, in an attempt to gain at least a sliver of control over the situation. He presses me back down into the pink rose covered cushions, halting any movement. I open my mouth to scream fro Mozzy, for my parents, for anyone to just get him away from me.
"Shh Marco," he tells me. "Do you really want to wake up your parents?"
I begin to scream anyway, but then stop, clamping my mouth shut. He's right; I can't call out to them. What could I say? Tell them that an invisible man is attacking me? I look over to Mozzy, casting her a pleading look. Mind speak! I can try to get to her!
Mozzy! Mozzy wake up! Please...he's here!
I stare at her, sending her urgent messages. She just won't wake up. I swear, atom bombs could be going off and she would still be asleep. I start thrashing my legs, trying to hit him. He lets out a grunt of pain when my leg miraculously makes contact with his knee. He moves, straddling my back, a position which prevents me from getting to him.
"Calm down," he growls into my ear. "If I was going to hurt you, I would've already. Just...relax."
I nearly laugh –without humor- but it comes out more of a choked sob, which is muffled by the cushion. "Relax? Kind of hard to do." I feel him smile –yeah, smile, not smirk...weird- against me and brush his lips over my neck. "G-get off of me...p-please."
I move my head –as much as I can anyway- to try and look back at him. I get a glimpse of a black shirt, and pale arms before he tangles a hand in my hair, pushing my head back down. I guess he's not to keen on the idea of actually seeing who he is.
He begins massaging my sore muscles, moving from my shoulder blades to the waste band of my boxers –should have worn pants tonight, too. No more sleeping in boxers only- then slowly back up again. And it feels...good. God, what the hell is wrong with me? This guy –this evil, somewhat sadistic, mean, possessive, probably not even good looking guy- is giving me a massage, and I'm enjoying it? I think I need some type of professional help or something.
His hands are still moving as he applies a bit more pressure to my sore spots, coaxing me into relaxing underneath his touch for a second. I suddenly realize what I'm doing and tense up, renewing my –admittedly- pitiful struggles to get him off of me. He again presses me into the couch, using one hand to keep me still, the other continuing to squeeze and rub up and down my back.
Against my will, I begin making small sounds of approval, melting into the warmth of his hands which continue gliding across my skin. Damn these evil teenage hormones.
"P-please...ju-just...just stop," I plead softly.
The hands never stop moving, only slowing down a bit and pressing a bit harder. "You don't sound like you want me to stop," he comments. His voices is low, almost distorted. I mentally curse him. I bet that even if I met him, I probably wouldn't even realize it. I don't know what he looks like, or even what he really sounds like. The most distinctive thing I know about his physical features is that he smells like cinnamon.
He reaches up and runs a hand through my hair, letting the tips of his fingers graze against my neck. My fingers curl into the fabric of the couch. I not let him get to me like this. I won't. Apparently my body decides not to listen to my brains vow, since I continue relaxing, even giving a small groan.
I feel his weight shifting slightly, sliding down my body a bit. His hands continue working on my stiff lower back as he starts raining butterfly kisses from my right shoulder all the way to my left. I tell myself to keep fighting, keep struggling. But I'm so tired, completely exhausted and drained of my energy. I try to think of a spell, but my mind is fogged, and thinking takes energy that I don't have at the moment.
"Ah!" I yelp as he sinks his teeth into my shoulder, breaking skin and drawing blood. Ow...ow...that hurts. What is wrong with people?! Is everyone I know a vampire? First Craig bites Dylan, then Spinner with his biting –though it wasn't as painful as this- and now him. I wince and try to pull away, only finding that doing so brings more pain. I feel tears of frustration and anger gathering in my eyes, but refuse to let them fall. He finally stops biting, releasing the abused skin. I feel him beginning to lap the bit of blood surrounding my wound, then place a kiss on it. "Vampire," I whimper, trying to sound more angry than afraid.
"Vampire?" he asks me. He bends down and kisses my cheek lightly. "Only one-third."
And then he's gone.
-
He gave you a massage? Mozzy asks me incredulously.
"Yeah," I tell her, nodding slightly.
A massage? Really?
I nod again, running a hand through my hair. She woke up at about 6:45, which –I think- was about fifteen minutes ago. Sighing I pick her up, cradling her in my arms as I head upstairs to get ready for school. I have to hurry, since my ma says I only get twenty minutes alone in my room to get dressed.
He gave you a freaking massage?
"Yes!" I tell her irritably. When we enter my room I set her on the smell desk chair –which used to have a matching desk, before I destroyed that with magic to- then head over to my dresser.
I was just asking, Rom Baro. You didn't have to snap at me.
I roll my eyes slightly as I pull a drawer open. "Sorry," I mumble while pulling out a green tee shirt. I lay it down on top of the dresser, rummaging through the drawer for a gray long sleeved shirt to wear under it. "I'm just kind of cranky."
A satisfied sigh escapes me as I grab the great shirt I was looking for and a pair of light jeans. What do I need now...? Oh, socks. Gotta have socks. I grab a few and begin looking them over, frowning slightly when none of them match. "I still can't believe you didn't see him. I mean, he was here, not in my dreams," I comment. Finally I end up deciding on one yellow toe sock and a small neon pink one.
Boxers.
I turn around, giving her a funny look. She stares at me for a moment before sighing, making a motion to the last drawer. You need another pair of boxers, unless you're planning on wearing those again today.
"Oh...yeah," I tell her, smiling. I kneel down and open the drawer, grabbing a fresh pair of black boxers.
I can't believe I didn't see him either. I heard you making noises last night, but I figured you were just dreaming about that Spinner boy. And yes, I know you like him. Don't deny it. I saw your diary.
"You read my diary?!" I screech at her.
Yes. Or that slu-I mean sweet, darling angel Slade.
I stare at her, my mouth open slightly. I can't believe she read my diary! Then I frown at her, going over her last comment mentally. "I swear, I'm surrounded by perverts and vampires," I mutter. I turn to see her looking at me strangely, an eyebrow raised.
Who do you know that's a vampire?
"Well, there's Craig. He's either a vampire, or just likes fighting like a girl. Oh and Spinner's one too, I swear he is. And so is he, dream guy. All right, well, one-third vampire, but vampire none the less.
...right, she says. He said he was one-third vampire? I nod in the affirmative, grabbing a stick of deodorant. I don't even want to know what the hell that's about.
"Just...forget it." I tell her. My hands go to the bottom of my Spongebob sweater –I put the sweater on, along with some sweat pants after my 'encounter' then ended up watching a Judging Amy marathon on TNT- and I tug it off, laying it down and mentally reminding myself to put in the hamper later. I pull off my sweat pants too, putting them with the sweater. I slip my thumbs underneath the waistband of my boxers, beginning to remove them. I stop mid tug, looking over my shoulder, to see Mozzy still sitting on the chair.
It just doesn't make sense. If he was here, why didn't I notice it? It's just like the time he came to you in the shower. I didn't even feel any type of evil mystical energy entering the home.
"Uh...Mozz..."
Why didn't I notice it? I should have. Is it possible that I'm just losing my touch? Oh no, of course not. That's just ridiculous! How could you even suggest that, Rom Baro? Honestly...
"Don't blame me," I retort. "You're the one who suggested it. Oh...and um..."
I don't know how strong he is, but he couldn't possibly mask his entire aura that well. I should have been able to feel him here, especially since I was in the same room. Maybe we should go speak with Rajko again, just to see if he's leaned anything else. Hey, do you think your parents would mind if you skipped school today?
"Mozzy!" I yell, causing her to trail off.
She glares at me slightly, and I can tell she's not too happy with the interruption of her plan. What? she snaps.
I give her a kind of rueful smile. Nervously I rub my bare arm. "Uh...do you think you...uh do you...?"
Yes? What is it Lassie? Is Timmy stuck in the well again?!
I frown at her, crossing my arms over my chest as I do. "Could you give me some privacy?" I ask her, a bit embarrassed.
She tilts her head to the side. Why?
"Well...it's just...I'm...I'm afraid you'll look."
She blinks at me once or twice. A sudden uncomfortable silence settles around us. My eyes dart around the room, looking anywhere but the black cat sitting in my desk chair. A few tense moments pass, neither of us speaking, or really even moving.
Then she laughs.
And laughs.
And then...she laughs some more.
I glare at her, huffing slightly as she continues. It's not funny. I mean, yeah, it's not like she hasn't seen me in my underwear here and all, but I don't want her seeing anymore than that. I don't like being naked in front of girls. Can you blame me? It's not like it's really high on my to do list.
Mozzy has now fallen off the chair and is rolling around on the floor, slapping her paw against the carpet as she continues to laugh. I find myself pouting a little when she doesn't stop.
"Shut up, okay?" I ask her. "Come on! It's not that funny! I just don't like being seen...like that. Stop laughing!" I yell. After a few seconds I add, "Please?"
'm n-not laughing. I'm just...I uh...I've got a hairball.
"Will you just leave?"
She pushes herself up to all fours, taking in a few deep breaths. You think I'm going to try to look at you, eh Rom Baro?
"You might look on accident...or something."
No offense, but I don't exactly want to see that. In all of my years I have seen many more men who are much more handsome, better built, and well...just plain sexier than you. And plus compared to me you're like, four years old. And you're gay. And you're not really all that cute, anyway. And...
"I get it," I say. Glaring at her I stiffen, suddenly finding her comments a bit offensive. "And hey, why don't you want to see me? I mean...I don't want you to see me...but...I mean I know I'm not the most...or anything..."
Why would I want to see you?
"H-hey...I know plenty of people who want to...look," I retort, wondering why I'm even arguing with my cat about this.
She shakes her head. Why would they want to see look at you naked?
"Because I happy to look very..." I trail off, searching for the right word. "G-glorious naked." Mentally I slap myself. Why do I feel the need to argue with everything she says? Why am I arguing about this of all things?
Glorious?she asks me, and I can hear the amusement playing in her voice.
"Um...y-yeah," I stutter, cursing my stupidity.
So, have you been studying your naked form a lot to learn this little fact?
My eyes widen and I feel myself blushing slightly. Quickly I shake my head. "N-no.."
Then how do you know?
"Well...uh...someone...t-told me..." I say, trailing off.
She gives me a sly grin. So who have you been hanging around with, naked? Was it that Slade boy? Is that why you haven't been able to pay attention to your lessons?
I open and close my mouth a few times, trying to find a way to answer. How do I even get myself into these conversations? "...these questions are dumb," I tell her, hugging the new pair of boxers to myself. "Can you just...go now?" I ask her pleadingly.
She yawns a bit, licking her paw lazily before nodding to me. Fine, fine. Wouldn't want you to worry about me trying to sneak a peak, she teases.
I place my hand on the door knob, quickly throwing the door open so she can leave. I slam it shut and grab the rest of my clothes, throwing them on as fast as I can. I grab a black belt and thread it through the loops, bucking it tightly in the front. Then I head into the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth. When I'm finally done with that, I exit the bathroom and run towards my window, grabbing my backpack and swinging it over my shoulders.
"Marco!" my ma's voice calls from downstairs. "You have five more minutes before I come up there! You better hurry it up!"
"I'm coming ma!" I yell back down to her. I head back towards the door, jogging slightly so I can make it downstairs in time to grab a pop tart before I leave. I jam my toe against something, crying out and giving a small curse underneath my breath. Looking down, I let out a loud sigh as I realize that I haven't even put my shoes on yet. Crap. Frantically I begin looking around my room for a pair of tennis shoes.
"Marco!"
Biting my lip nervously I rush over to my closet, throwing the doors open in my rush. And of course, it just has to be the door with the hole in it. Without warning it falls off it's hinges, crashing to the floor. I yelp and jump back, just narrowly avoiding the falling door.
"What was that? What are you doing? I'm coming up there!"
"No ma, it's fine! Really! I have everything under control!" I tell her.
I mentally weigh my options, deciding that I'll just try to put the door back on later; I have to find shoes now. I drop to my knees and begin throwing whatever has fallen to the closet floor over my shoulder, desperately searching for anything at all. There is a pair of worn out green shoes. I reach for them, then decide that I'm not that desperate, and throw them over my shoulder. Another curse escapes me when I hear a loud 'thump'. I look back to see that the shoes hit the lamp near my bed –well, bed frame, since there's not really a bed there anymore- causing it to fall and shatter into pieces.
"Marco Del Rossi!" she screams. "If you do not come down here in ten seconds, I will beat you with this salami and serve you for dinner tonight!"
I gulp slightly, pushing myself up, then sigh when I realize that I still don't have any shoes. "Damn it!"
"Are you cursing up there?" she cries.
"Um...n-no!"
"Eight, seven..."
Quick...need shoes...gotta find something...
"...five...four..."
Now! Without really looking I bend down and quickly grab a pair of orange flip flops and slip them on. I run out of my room, practically flying down the stairs, reaching the very bottom to see my ma standing there, giving me a dangerous look.
"...one," she says slowly, and I let out a sigh of relief. "You were lucky this time. Now...GET TO SCHOOL!"
"Y-yes mama!" I tell her. I begin heading towards the door, glaring at Mozzy when she chuckles at me as I pass her. Can today get any worse?
-
I let my forehead hit the locker, banging it against the cool metal a few times, before pulling back and repeating the process again. Today has just not been my day at all. First mystery guy pays me a visit, then the disaster that was this morning, then I nearly get run over by some senior in the halls, and then Kwan gives us a pop quiz. A pop quiz that I failed, by the way.
I guess I've just been so caught up with everything that I lost track of my school work again. And I was doing so well, too. I guess I'll just have to work in some more after school study session with Slade. I grin a little at this, finding the thought of being able to spend even more time with him is lifting my spirits.
Gripping the knob of the lock with my index, middle finger and thumb, I begin twisting it lightly, putting in my combination. I pull down on it, finding that it just doesn't seem to want to move. I glare at it, giving it a menacing stare.
"Open," I command it, pulling a bit harder, but it still doesn't budge. "Oh come on! I got the combination right, I know I did! Just...open..." I mumble, still fighting with it. I hear a few chuckles from behind me and turn my head, seeing a few girls walk by. They giggle slightly as I look at them, a blond girl on the end raising her hand to wave at me. I blink at them and quickly turn my attentions back to the locker, trying to ignore them. "Oh, come on little lock," I plead. "Just...open. I've had a really bad day, can't you give me this one little break? Please?"
"Having locker troubles?"
I yelp a bit, the sudden voice to my right startling me out of my argument with the every tricky lock. I drop my books, a few of them hitting an exposed toe, causing me to let out a hiss of pain. I start jumping on my other foot, quickly reaching to grab the injured one, moving my thumb over the injured toe. I hear chuckling and look to see Slade, smiling at me widely. I glare at him and open my mouth, prepared to tell him that this is most certainly not funny, and that he is a jerk for laughing. I guess I forgot that my books are littering the floor at the moment and I jump on one of them, slipping. I let go of my foot as I begin to fall forwards. Closing my eyes, I prepare for the harsh contact of cold tile against my face, but it never comes.
Instead, two strong arms are wrapped around my waist, pulling me up. I look up, stuttering slightly as I find myself pulled up against Slade's chest; Slade's very nice, warm, well muscled chest.
"You okay?" he asks me concerned, his soft voice right next to my ear. I nod, finding coherent speech much to difficult at this close proximity to him. "I didn't mean to startle you. Sorry," he apologizes.
"Oh no, it's f-fine," I mumble, finding myself very glad that he's still holding on to me. I pull back a little and look up at his face, my gaze meeting his clear, icy, beautiful blue eyes.
Breathing. Need to remember to breathe.
Looking up at him like this, I suddenly forget that we're in the middle of the hallway, and that anyone could walk right past us right now. There's just him, and me.
Damn it...I told myself to breathe!
Giving me a soft smile, he –regrettably- lets go of my waist. He takes a small step back and kneels down on one knee. I stare in confusion, not exactly sure about what he's going to do. He touches my injured toe slightly –which has stopped stinging now- and gives me a rueful smile.
"I really am sorry about that. Does it still hurt?"
I shake my head, my brain still not functioning well enough for words at the moment. With the same beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous –I could go on and on with adjectives- smile on his face, he lifts his index finger to his lips, then brings it back down, pressing it to my toe. I can feel heat flooding to my face at the gesture, but also a small grin playing on my lips. He grabs my books, piling them into his arms, then stands up.
I resist the urge to sigh dreamily at him.
"Nice shoes," he comments grinning. "This your locker?" he asks me, nodding to the one in front of me.
"Yeah," I tell him. "It won't open though. Piece of junk."
"Here, hold these," he says, handing the books back to me. "What's your combination?"
"It's 4-"
"Hey guys," a new voice from behind us says. Both Slade and I turn our heads, watching as Spinner and Paige walk up to us. My grin widens and I gave them both a wave. "So...what are you doing?" Spinner asks us.
I open my mouth, prepared to answer, but Slade cuts in. "I'm just helping Marco get his locker open," he tells him.
Paige grins, looking over at me and winking. "Isn't that sweet of him Hun?" she asks.
Spinner gives Slade a kind of disapproving glare before speaking. "Yeah, sweet," he says, a bit sarcastically. "I can get the locker." He begins moving forward, reaching out for the lock, but Slade puts a hand to his chest, pushing him back slightly.
"I'm sure I can get it. Marco was just telling me the combination, right Marco?"
I start to speak again, but this time it is Spinner who cuts me off. "Well I already know the combination, and it really doesn't make any sense to go around telling strangers how to get into your locker, isn't that right Marco?"
"Well, I..."
"Stranger?" Slade asks. He then glances over at me. "Am I stranger to you, Marco?"
I look over at Paige, who is staring coldly at Spinner, who is glaring at Slade, who is now eyeing Spinner. Can you spell, tension?
"Uh...guys," I begin, trying to get their attention. They ignore completely, instead staring at each other, looking as if their ready to pummel each other. All right, what exactly am I missing? I mean, I know Spinner isn't really Slade's biggest fan, but he's never actually gotten into a real confrontation with him. My gaze drifts from my two friends towards Paige, then into the middle of the hall way, where I see Ellie beginning to come towards us. She walks up to our little group, standing beside Paige but not acknowledging her.
"Hey Marco, ready to go to lunch?" she asks me.
I prepare to answer her, but once again –am I ever going to get to say anything- I am cut off by the two boys standing in front of the locker.
"Yeah well maybe I just don't want some psycho," Spinner begins, pushing Slade's arm away from his chest, "being able to break into my best friends locker."
"Oh please. I think someone's a bit jealous that their friend has someone new to play with."
"Jealous? You think I'm jealous?"
Slade tilts his head, looking down on Spinner –who's only about two inches taller than him- as he begins to speak. "I'm not the one fighting over who gets to open his damn locker!"
Ellie merely blinks, looking at me as if I'm supposed to be able to give her an answer to their strange actions. I merely shrug my shoulders, shifting to lift the books back into my arms, since I don't want them falling again.
"Admit it, you haven't liked me since the first day you met me!"
"Oh gee, and you figured that out when?!"
"You're nothing but a little punk who just thinks he's tough. I don't even understand why Marco puts up with you."
"Me? You're the one who walks around acting like he's better than everyone else! Just because you're a few years older, doesn't mean we should bow down to you or anything!"
Slade glares at him, stepping a bit closer, getting into Spinner's personal space. "What gives you the right to say anything to me about the way I treat people? Especially after how you treated Marco," he says icily.
Paige clears her throat, clearly not liking where this conversation is going. "Let's just get out of here," she says, but Spinner doesn't turn his attention away from him. "Come on," she continues, but still he doesn't move. I look at them, not understanding what is really happening . She glares at him, huffing a bit. "Fine. Whatever. Stay here and have your little macho fight over the freaking locker! Come on Ellie," she begins, wrapping her hand around my friend's arm and beginning to pull her towards the caf. "You're eating lunch with me today."
I look after them, blinking slightly as I watch a somewhat stunned, somewhat blushing, somewhat giddy Ellie being pulled down the hall by a somewhat pissed, somewhat muttering, but still somewhat giddy Paige.
...weird.
I turn my attention back to the two teen boys in front of my locker. I wish they would just stop fighting. I mean, God, what are they even fighting over? Being able to open my locker? Which neither of them is opening, by the way. Just thought I'd point that bit out.
"Don't even start that," Spinner hisses, mimicking Slade by taking a step forward as well. "That was a long time ago."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure it was. I bet you think that he's just gotten over it, don't you? Well you know what, I'm not sure he has. Do you know how much you hurt him? He trusted you, and what did you do to him? You turned your back on him; you wrote it on the bathroom wall!"
"Why do you care anyway? It's not like it's any of your business!"
"He's my friend too, you know, so yeah, I'm kind of thinking it is my business."
I really, really don't like the way this is going. Still half way struggling with my books, I take a few steps towards them. "Guys, please don't do this," I ask them softly.
I'm ignored. Surprise, surprise...
"Why do you want to be his friend anyway?" Spinner asks him. "He's just a little tenth grader. A peon not worthy of your time!"
Gee thanks Spin. People have just been doing wonders for my self esteem today. I blink a few times, trying to fight back tears. I know he's not trying to, but hearing words like that coming from his mouth...it hurts.
"Please, stop it you two," I plead again.
"Peon? Oh, does using such a fancy word make you feel better, huh Mason?"
He glares, looking like he's two seconds from slamming Slade into the locker. "Oh yeah, now I remember why you're after him," he says, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've already fucked the rest of the guys in this school, so now you're starting in on defenseless Marco!"
"You little-"
"Guys!" I scream, my voice shaking. "Shut the hell up!" I yell, finally gaining their attention, as they both snap their heads towards me. I feel tears stinging my eyes, and they both give me regretful looks; Slade's more apologetic than Spinner's, who just looks plain pissed off at the moment. "Just...go. Both of you. I can open my own locker."
I push past both of them, edging them away by shrugging my shoulders as I reach for my lock. I feel a tear rolling down my cheek but ignore it, hoping that maybe if I do, neither of them will point it out. I manage to get the lock open. After dumping my books inside I slam the door shut, quickly hooking the lock back around it. When I turn around, they are both still standing there, staring at me.
"Look, I'm sorry Marc-" Slade begins, but I stop him by waving a hand in dismissal.
"It's fine. Just forget it," I tell him.
"No it's not. I shouldn't have said those things," he apologizes. He then turns towards Spinner, taking a deep breath. "Man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of that stuff."
Spinner stares at the hand like it's poison. He glares up at him. "Bull shit," he hisses.
"God will you two cut it out?" I ask them. "You're acting like...like little kids, or something. Have some maturity."
"I-"
"Slade, look, I know you're sorry. It's okay really."
"Marc-"
"Spinner...shut up," I tell him, shaking my head. He looks surprised, and a bit angry, but stops anyway. "I can take care of myself all right? I'm not a little kid." Without giving either of them a chance to say anything else, I turn around, heading towards the caf.
"Wait, Marco!" Slade says. I don't slow down until I feel his hand wrapping around my arm, gently pulling me to a stop. I turn to face him, looking up at him tiredly.
"What?"
He looks slightly nervous, giving me a little smile. "Listen, now probably isn't the best time to ask or anything, but...do you want to go out with me Friday night?" he asks.
I blink at him, feeling time stop momentarily. He's...he's asking me out? Now? After he and my best friend just had a fight over some dumb locker? He's asking me out?!
When I don't answer, he continues. "See, my dad has this friend, who's opening up a club. We can get in free; we don't need fake ID's or anything either. The Killers are even going to play there. I know how you told me you liked that band and...well I thought maybe if you wanted to go with me..."
I continue to stare at him, my mouth hanging wide open as I do. He...he wants me to go with him? I feel like, dancing, or singing, or just jumping up and down a lot. Yes! Yes! Yes!
Then, I look over at Spinner, who is giving Slade such a cold glare it sends shivers down my spine. Spinner...? Oh man...how can I go out with Slade when...how can I even give him answer with Spin standing right there? I'm still pretty confused about where exactly my feelings for Spin stand, anyway; do I like him as a friend, as more than a I even love him? No! No! No!
So I stare, opening and closing my mouth about twenty times, before the I finally give him my answer.
I'm mean, there's really only one choice...right?
---
(1) 'Rode tshia bora le kanensa tai te na le yakensa' basically means 'With the ears, and not with the eyes' in Romany. Seems like something that might be used in an invisibility spell. I can't really find any web sites with spells on them; and it's pretty difficult to explain to you mother why you're looking up spells in Romany for a slash fan fiction your writing.
All right guys. I am moving to another house, like, tomorrow, and I don't know how long it's going to be before I get my internet back up. I apologize in advance for any lateness of updates. But this chapter was extra long, so it might hold you over.
Marco: But you made it a cliffy!
Spinner: He's going to say no right? Say no and go home with me?
Marco: Is that the only thing you ever think about?
Spinner:...I think about food too.
-rolls eyes- Please review! I'll be back...soon. I don't know when though. Bye guys. I'll miss you! (Watch me get internet back and update tomorrow...-sighs-)